where the kisses are hers and hers and his...

Valentine’s Happenings

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:25:48 -0600

We celebrated Valentine’s day with our annual chocolate heart-shaped cake. This year, we added chocolate covered strawberries for added touch.

On Friday, Johnathan brought home some red tulips (Anna’s favorite), and they bloomed for Valentine’s day!

Johnathan had a surprise waiting for him as well. Anna and Elena drew a lovely chalk message to welcome him home.

We took Elena to Parents’ Night Out on Friday evening at First Baptist South here in Tyler ($5 babysitting!) and we went to eat at Cheddar’s. We enjoyed a nice dinner and Anna appreciated not having to entertain and feed baby while dining, although she was a little anxious about getting Elena back. When we went to pick her up, she was having a great time in the nursery and didn’t seem to realize we had gone!

On Sunday, Elena got all dressed up for church in a new Spring dress. She made funny faces for the camera.

The first sign of Spring - freshly bloomed daffodils (Anna’s other favorite!)

Resident Costume Party

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:41:24 -0500

Yesterday we attended the annual UT Family Medicine Halloween Party for the first time! Anna reused her Mrs. Butterworth costume from a couple years ago and Johnathan joined in the breakfast theme with his rendition of Cap’n Crunch. Elena was an adorable fairy!

We worked all day Saturday on Johnathan’s costume (he did most of the work). We dyed one of his coats from med school blue and he constructed his hat from foamboard.

Breakfast, anyone?

Elena was such a well-behaved little fairy!!

This is the pumpkin patch cake we brought to the party. It’s a chocolate cake frosted with chocolate icing and oreo crumbs with peanut butter pumpkin balls. :)

Elena took a rest from playing treasure hunt with Claire, who dressed as Snow White.

We’ll have to think of some more fun costume ideas for next year! Suggestions welcome...

Pumpkin Carving Party!

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:05:16 -0500

There is a definite inverse relationship between how busy we are and how often the blog gets an update. As we are so terribly behind on all the events of the past 2 months, we’ll just start anew with our latest fun event - Pumpkin Carving!!

We hosted a pumpkin carving party for residents are spouses. We had lots of pumpkin-inspired treats and lots of patterns and templates to choose from. Anna watched Elena and entertained the girls while Johnathan facilitated the pumpkin carving. It seemed like using PumkinMasters™ books and carving kits was a new experience for everyone and the results were phenomenal! Pictures below~

Before the Party
Beforehand we took a few shots of Elena in her too-cute “I love my Mummy” onesie, sitting with her mommy, next to a bouquet of mums. How sweet. Johnathan wasn’t left out of the photo op- we have to share the baby!

The Food
Anna prepared her mother’s Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies. We made a Jack-O’-Lantern shaped cake. Jean brought frosted Pumpkin Bars. There were chips, salsa, and 7-layer dip decorated as a pumpkin. And Hotdog Mummies! Yum! And, Anna had pumpkin spice creamer for the coffee.

The Carving
Each person picked a pattern from our books. Johnathan, of course, had to do something more complicated. He used a photo of Elena and edited it on Photoshop to simplify it into basic shapes and shades.

(Can you believe Johnathan’s pumpkin turned out so well? He actually carved Elena’s face!!! He could give Michaelangelo a run for his money)

Play Time - The girls had fun playing, swinging and dressing up like fairies. It was pretty much a well-balanced afternoon!

Yearbook Yourself... I couldn’t resist

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:37:58 -0500

I discovered this site through Michelle - yearbookyourself.com. I couldn’t resist trying it out! So much fun. Just import a photo of yourself and poof - you’re taken back in time...way back... to strange and unusual styles that thankfully are now a distant memory!

Here are some of my favorites:
1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

If you try it out yourself, don’t forget to share!!!! :)

Nana and Pappy Visit

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:34:56 -0500

Hello! Johnathan Here. Just a few words about the weekend. We had a nice but short as always visit from Nana and Pappy. (aka my parents) They came in Fri night and stayed through Saturday. We didn’t do much, but we did get a new router while they were here. Anna wants to keep a record of the little nicknames Nana comes up with. Here are her favorites from this weekend:
Lil’ Puddin’
Scooter
Ringed-tailed tooter

We did have time for some pictures from the weekend! Above may be the first picture of Nana and Pappy holding Elena! I’m sure there will be more to come!

I like this one a lot! She smiled at me.

She did get a little bored with all the picture taking.

“I can be cute without even trying!”

Looks like someone is getting so sleepy. She takes a few 20-30 minute naps a day. Night times are variable, but we are getting closer.

ABS Renunion

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:11:45 -0500

This past weekend I drove to Ruston, LA for two reason:
To be reunited with my wife an baby after their three week stay in Ruston. See Anna’s previous entries for more on that.
To attend the first ever Summer ABS (Association of Baptist Students) Reunion!

The ABS is a college organization Jennifer, Britton, and I were involved in during our times at La Tech. We made many friends and this was the first time I had seen many of them since graduating college 5 years ago! wow.. time flies.

Anyway... I’ll just make this brief... The ABS was filled with quirky people. So, I will try to write something I remember about each person in the picture above: (or at least the ones I can think of a funny story about)

Jennifer K. - My sister! I’ve known her her whole life! In college she would buy me assorted chocolates on Valentine’s day so that I wouldn’t feel left out on what is otherwise a “couples” holiday.

Britton K. - Married my sister... he is a very talented musician and played music for the ABS worship times.

Adam - He started at tech during my grad school year. I roomed with him on a mission trip and I remember him playing hymns on the harmonica. He also has a white spot in his hair. Once I asked if he saw dead people like the kid on sixth sense (who also had a white patch) but I don’t think anyone got it.

Jody - the best jody memory is when the cashier at Wal-Mart asked her “Are you mix!?” (meaning half white half black) and then follow it with “You got some sista’ in you!”

Larry - Has a great tenor voice. Also hilarious with a contagious laugh. I can’t think of any good stories! Stink!

Clint - Didn’t know Clint that well in college, but he went to LSU Med school, a year ahead of me.

Christa - She bought me a “Doc” doll, cause I was going to Med school, that was nice.

Lisa - I didn’t know Lisa that well - the only memory I can think of is playing Cops and Robbers and she and Emily were crackin’ up in the back. She has a contagious laugh, especially when laughing at Keith.

Brooke - We are cousins some how... I think like through a marriage or two. But Jennifer and I still called her “cousin” Brooke. Favorite memory is that she loved to clean!

Emily - I remember that when she’d get excited her voice would get all high pitched and her eyes really wide. My favorite memory of her also involved Jace her now-husband-then-fiance. We were discussing food and we both realized that the only meats she and I eat were fish and birds (ie turkey and chicken). So I said we must be part cat. Then the conversation went like this:
Emily: (in an excited high-pitched voice) Jace... we are part cat cause we eat fish and birds!
Jace (quick and dry comeback): You could be part hawk...
Emily: (shocked and dismayed): They eat birds!?
Prolly not as funny on paper, but it was really hilarious in real life

Jace - Married Emily. Main memory is his dry and witty remarks (see above). He cracked me up.... He and Britton did this hilarious skit for talent night where they did the “Israeli fight song” before fighting Goliath.

Keith - This guy loves Clue the movie! I think he could quote the whole movie. I’m sure it was his idea to have a Clue theme for the ABS back to school party in ’02.

Jeremy - a fellow Mac buddy. We had speech together and we both gave speeches about Apple computers.

Kelly - Funniest memory was on Talent night when several girls dressed as nuns and lip-synced to “I Will Follow Him” from Sister Act. I think Kelly was Whoopi and wore a big Afro. It was funny... I thought she was pretty shy up until that point.

Jennifer C. - Let’s see... I can’t top when Naomi told Jennifer That they had the biggest eyes she’d ever seen, ever! (in typical Naomi enthusiasm) Jennifer then informed Naomi it was because of a thyroid disorder... Naomi was so embarrassed she had to leave the room.

Lindsay - we grew up together! I guess the best college memory with lindsay was all the road trips we took, mostly to see concerts by our favorite singer/song-writers. Oh... I have to mention Lindsay’s snake addiction! She was infamous through-out the ABS for playing the Snake game on her phone. Like we were seriously considering an intervention or a 12-step program.

Ok.... just some random thoughts. If I missed someone, or forgot some perfect story, I’m sorry. Don’t get offended - just post something funny in the comments.

Babes in Hanniballand

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:57:07 -0500

Elena had some little friends over today -
Grammy’s neighbor Jacob and her cousin Siri (and Aunti Jenn, of course). Jacob calls her the “bebe” and tries to put socks on her!

Siri was toddling about, eating cheese.

Elena got to enjoy Aunti Jenn’s lap as she watched the two “big kids” play.

Zach’s been helping out a lot with Elena - what a good cousin! (except when he makes fun of her expressions!)

3 weeks in my hometown

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:03:20 -0500

The past couple of weeks at Hannibal House have been as dynamic as always. At home in Tyler, I almost forget how quiet and calm our isolated world is... until I come to Ruston, where everyday is a nonstop adventure. The past couple weeks have been filled with people and children trafficking in and out, home-cooked meals, late night bowls of ice cream, tennis games in 100 degree heat at the Ruston High courts, and swimming sessions at the Haisty house. I’ve enjoyed spending time with all my nieces and nephews. Zach has been helping me with Elena all week, and last week Jessie and Jake came over and spent the night at my parents’ house. Tomorrow I plan to eat lunch at Sundown with Jenn and Siri, and Friday Johnathan will be traveling this way for to attend the ABS reunion and take me back to Tyler. Though I’ll be happy to return to a life of peaceful leisure (not to mention my dear husband), I’ll miss the excitement of being surrounded by family and friends.

Tonight the Ruston branch of the Hannibals came together to dine at the Dawg House, including my aunt and five of my cousins. Elena sported a new dress that arrived as a gift from my family in the Azores. We had a great time, as always. My mom handed out jars of strawberry fig preserves she’s been canning from the fresh figs on our tree, and I learned from Aunt Ursula that mixing dark beer and sprite is actually tasty! Must be a German thing...

After dinner, our neighbor and my childhood friend Anne-Marie and her toddler son Jacob came over and played with Elena. I had made a creamy key lime pie from fresh lime last night, and we managed to polish the rest of it off with a pot of (decaf) coffee. A good ending to a good night!

Little Jacob, Elena, and Anne-Marie

My cousin Hannah turns 3 in a couple weeks

Carolyn, Zach, me, Mom, and Elena await our meal

Kent, Chris, and Carolyn: 3 siblings

Aunt Ursula visits with Kent who is visiting from California

Love is in the air

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 17:09:57 -0500

Johnathan and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary on July 3rd with a trip to Dallas.

We left baby girl in good hands with my parents and drove to Fort Worth on Thursday night with plans to see a play. All we knew was that “Noises Off” was being performed at a playhouse sometime, somewhere in Forth Worth. Just when we needed our Garmin GPS the most, “she” decided to be stubborn and wouldn’t work. So I navigated using Johnathan’s iPhone, and finally we drove up to this desolate side street in old downtown Fort Worth. I was secretly thinking, “Where the heck are we?” and wondering what kinda mess we were getting into. We spotted the theater and walked into an alternate universe. It was a pleasant shot-gun style building with a cozy, artistic feel, full of an eclectic variety of people. We ate dinner and pre-ordered dessert for intermission - Kahlua chocolate cake. We stepped into the theater for show time, and received a warm welcome from all the staff. The play began, and it was as entertaining and complex as Johnathan had promised. We enjoyed our intermission delight, and we even received a discounted price for tickets due to some special “pay whatever you want” policy for that particular night. It was very fun, and we just might be making it a part of our Dallas trip traditions.

We stayed at the Richardson hotel, which we loved, and it was great to get a full night’s sleep without worrying about baby!

The next day - July 4 - we ate lunch at PF Chang’s, our very favorite Chinese restaurant and definitely our eatery of choice when visiting Dallas! Then we walked around the mall and enjoyed a lemon tart and cappuccino at La Madeleine’s before heading home.

On the way back to Tyler, we were reminded of the happiness the past 3 years has brought. As I looked ahead at the bright summer sky, I suddenly noticed that the clouds looked like they spelled LOVE. Maybe it’s just my imagination... but we both saw it... a gift reminding us to love one another.

A STARbuck IS BORN

Wed, 28 May 2008 22:16:27 -0500

Well, after 39 weeks of pregnancy, we have our beautiful newborn safe and sound at home to stay. The delivery certainly didn’t go as planned, but the end result was the same. We have a health 9lb 9oz, 21 inch bundle of joy!

Toward the end of the pregnancy baby Starbuck hit a fairly rapid growth spurt. At 37 weeks, the OB noticed that she seemed to be large for her age. An ultrasound estimated a 9 pound baby! Also, it suggested the abdomen was larger than the head. Fearing the dreaded shoulder dystocia (when the shoulders can’t pass through the mother’s pelvis), our doctor recommended a cesarean. That was hard news on Anna who had never had a surgery and didn’t want to be cut. Not to mention the fact that having one c-sect limits the number of children you are able to have in the future. Johnathan understood the doctor’s concern, and felt that it was in the best interest of the baby, but was saddened about being denied the experience of coaching his wife through labor.

After much discussion and counsel from family, the decision was made, and plans set: a scheduled C-sect on May 23rd! Being scheduled has its perks... all the family made plans to attend, Johnathan was able to arrange a call swap, and we could finish up the last bit of preparation around the house. Having assisted in several c-sections, Johnathan tried to inform Anna of everything to expect while in the operating room... and assured her he’d be right there the whole time. We even got the OK to have Jennifer attend the surgery for photos of the birth! However, things don’t always turn out as expected.

The anesthesia of choice for a cesarean is a spinal block, where anesthesia is injected into spine to numb her from the chest down. After Anna was prepped and draped, the doctor tested the efficacy of it by pinching her belly with a forceps. Anna jerked with pain -- the spinal failed. After that, everyone moved with hyper-speed as Johnathan was whisked out to the recovery room and the doctors put Anna to sleep under general anesthesia. About 8 minutes later, the anesthesiologist popped in the recovery room and announced that the baby was here! The baby nurse stopped by the recovery room briefly and let me hold the baby a bit before she went to the nursery. Here is the very first shot of Elena Grace. They rolled Anna in about 30 minutes later, groggy and in a lot of pain.

Despite the minor complications the end result was the same: a healthy baby girl!

Meanwhile in the waiting room, all the family waited and attempted to solve a crossword puzzle and discover the mystery name! I think only Britton and Dad (Baines) finished it! Anna stayed in the recovery room about an hour or two and then we were transferred our room. The halls outside there labor unit were lined with family and friends! Everyone got there first glimpse of the baby.

The rest of the hospital stay was pretty much unremarkable. On Sunday, two days later, Anna and Elena were discharged. Johnathan had to work, and missed the going home event. But, when he got home he found Anna, Elena, and Geordi the cat all in bed napping! Its so nice to be at home with our beautiful prize. Thanks so much to all the family and friends for your love, support, and prayers.

Here are a few more pics:

The Web Gallery